Today, early in the morning
His style is smart casual, about 6.2" in height, large and overbearing in a male teddy bear sort of way. He's sporting warrior red and it suits him.
She on the other hand is of above-average looks. Her hair, features, and complexion betray some Somali ancestry. She's dressed in jean trousers and a jean jacket. Her chosen color is combat black. They must be both in their late thirtees or just forty.
Artcaffe is the scene, sparsely crowded. They are seated seven paces behind me and he keeps raising his voice. He seems animated as he leans forward. Then there's that sound he keeps making by slapping the back of one hand against the palm of the other. Her voice remains muted, I can tell she feels insulted. Then a period of quiet; I look back. They've cast stern glances to the side in tense silence. Then he begins again with threats of '...back everything...', more grovelling, intimidation.
Why is she taking this?
She wakes up abruptly and strides purposefully about 20 steps, into a shop in the mall. I let out a sigh of relief. But he stands up quickly and follows her. In a jiff, he's standing beside her in the shop. She pauses and walks out, he pursues in a rage.
They were side by side in the corridors when it happened - he bumped her shoulder, savagely. She was flung to the side, almost falling; still she walked on, her face resolute.
Shock! Not hers but mine. I'm still shocked at how even that woman could give away her power. Shocked at my powerlessness today, early in the morning, when I saw a woman and her cruel bully bear in a public place.